British Colonial Furniture
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.
As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.
Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.
To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.
Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
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Style: British Colonial
British Colonial Planter
Located in Boynton Beach, FL
Vintage British Colonial style burnt bamboo planter. Made well and kept in great condition. Bamboo panels have been hand bu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Turned Wood Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century British colonial style table lamps crafted in turned wood with classic form and a mahogany finish. Two pair available.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$3,200 / set
Extra Large Early 19th Century English Mirror
Located in Faversham, GB
An exceptional early 19th century mirror from the historic Chatham Dockyards in Kent, England.
The heavily foxed mercury plate is twelve millimeters in thickness and supported by th...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mercury Glass, Mirror, Oak, Pine
$7,116 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Coastal Boho Bamboo Rattan Foldable Dinning / Card Table
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Charming vintage folding table crafted from bamboo and rattan, featuring a striking geometric parquet design on the top.
The natural beauty of the bamboo is highlighted by the warm h...
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Wood
British Colonial Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Square Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury British Colonial style coffee table with a faux bamboo frame and two grasscloth tiers over splayed feet.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo Etagere
Located in Southampton, NJ
A Faux bamboo British Colonial style etagere with mirror detailing, fixed interior shelves behind two glass doors; enhanced with green grasscloth interior. Multifunctional for storag...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo, Glass
Vintage British Colonial Style Bamboo Three Tiered Folding Etagere
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style mid century etagere crafted in bamboo with three woven rattan shelves featuring an ingenious folding option.
H: 32 W: 22 D: 11
Folded depth: 4
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
Scarce Anglo Indian British Colonial Brass Mounted Wooden Log Pail Bucket
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and most charming antique Anglo Indian British Colonial brass bound hand turned hollowed log bucket.
Early 19th century, India, handmade during the British rule on the Indian...
Category
Early 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
China, 18th Century, Blue-and-White Decorated Dish, circa 1780
Located in PARIS, FR
China, 18th Century, Blue-and-White Decorated Dish, circa 1780
This Chinese export porcelain dish, made around 1780 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), illustrates the ...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Lee Radziwill Inspired Block Print Down Pink Lotus Flower Motif Pillow, India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring a taste of the orient to any space with one of our custom-created Indian block print pillows. Each pillow is made of soft cotton and h...
Category
2010s Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Down
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
1900s English Mahogany Canterbury/ Magazine Rack/Record Holder
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Antique English Mahogany Canterbury magazine rack.
Four spacious divisions over a good sized single dove tail drawer with original brass pu...
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
$422 Sale Price
35% Off
Pair of Leather Button Tufted Wingback British Colonial Style Armchairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome pair of British colonial style wingback armchairs upholstered in lush brown leather in a classic elegant form and featuring button tufted backs, brass studs, and turned legs...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather
Hanging Wicker Monkey after Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Torres
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small hanging wicker monkey holding a grouping of leaves. This cute brown monkey is created from wicker and features arms and legs which are bent so t...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Rattan, Paint
$220 Sale Price
20% Off
Maitland Smith Post Modern Zebra Hide Box 1980's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Post Modern 1980s Maitland Smith decorative box made of a square wood bottom covered in brown leather and top lid covered with zebra hide with a round polished brass and hyde p...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Zebra Hide
Mid-20th Century Restored Coastal Brighton Pavilion Bamboo and Cane Settee
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A beautifully restored Mid-20th Century bamboo settee in the Brighton Pavilion style, showcasing intricate fretwork and a warm honey-toned finish. The cane seat and architectural det...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Man of the Sandwich Islands, with His Helmet J. Webber del. J.K. Sherwin Sc.
By John Webber
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An English 18 century engraving titled "Man of the Sandwich Islands, with his helmet " signed .J. Webber del. J.K. Sherwin sc. The subject was sk...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paper
$1,200 Sale Price
20% Off
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Leather Bookcase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style bookcase or etagere featuring a faux bamboo frame, tooled leather panels on the sides, shelves, and drawer fronts having classic lion head hardware...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Antique English Georgian Style Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome British Colonial 19th century English Georgian style partners desk handcrafted in mahogany in three piece construction featuring a tooled leather top, six drawers and a cabi...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Silver Plated Mechanical Gun or Cannon Bottle Trolley Decanting Machine
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well made mechanical gun carriage bottle trolley and pourer is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England in approximately 1890 in a British Colonial style. The carr...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Elegant Vintage Mahogany Plant Stand
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage carved mahogany elegant plant stand.
Category
1960s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$800 Sale Price
20% Off
American Country Style Brass and Iron Ladle
Located in Queens, NY
American Country-style (19th Century) brass ladle with wrought iron handle
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Sterling Navette Form Dutch Scene Gilt Interior Tea Caddy British Import Mark
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A sterling silver navette form Dutch scene gilt interior tea caddy with British import mark, makers mark SBL for Samuel Boyce Landeck, (Sheffield 1897). Decorated with couples in a t...
Category
1890s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th Century Ebonized Jackwood British Colonial Box on Stand from British Ceylon
Located in Richmond, VA
19th century ebonized jackwood British Colonial box on stand from British Ceylon (Modern day Sri Lanka). Two part box on Stand is made of Jackwood with eb...
Category
19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
A View of Cape Rouge, Quebec, Canada, Mazell after Capt. Hervey Smyth, c.1760s
Located in Savannah, GA
A View of Cape Rouge, or Carouge, on the Saint Lawrence River, north of Quebec.
Engraving by Peter Mazell after a drawing by Captian Hervey Smyth, published c.1760's, London.
T...
Category
1760s Canadian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paper
Pair of Brass Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic mid century modern pair of table lamps crafted in brass in a stylized palm tree form on an octagon ebonized wood base. Best of the genre.
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
$7,500 / set
Great Pair of Vintage Mahogany Planters Chairs
Located in Richmond, VA
Great pair of vintage mahogany planters chairs with canvas.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Refinished Brighton Pavilion Bamboo Side or Coffee Table With G
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A stunning Mid-20th Century bamboo table in the Brighton Pavilion style, fully refinished and ready to anchor your space with tropical elegance.
Featuring a square silhouette, slight...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Glass
Teak and Cane Colonial Chaise Lounge
Located in Highland, IN
This striking chaise is long, lean and luxurious. A teak frame with lovely carved details and a woven cane support offers a platform for lounging, reading and relaxing. Made more comfortable by a beautiful woven quilted pad and pillow.
This exceptional piece strikes a balance between antique and...
Category
Early 20th Century European British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Cane, Teak
Antique British Colonial Campaign Chest on Cabinet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 18th century British Colonial chest with a beaded cornice over three drawers with campaign hardware in the top of the case and ...
Category
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
British Colonial Style Coffee Table with Inset Bronze, Christie's Auction Label
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial Style coffee table with inset bronze. Christie's auction label.
Offered for sale is a British Colonial-style coffee table with an inset bronze grate...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$1,250 Sale Price
47% Off
Anglo Indian Bronze Serving Bowl on a Palm Tree Stand with Camel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style cast bronze fruit or serving bowl on a palm tree stand over a camel on a faux terra firma base.
Category
Late 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
English Brown Leather Valise
Located in Queens, NY
English dark brown leather small valise with 2 strapes and initials HB
Category
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather
El Nido English Ships Wrought Iron Wall Bracket Lantern
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
This wrought iron lantern was inspired by a Spanish Colonial house in Santa Barbara. It is also in the style of ships lanterns on the 19th century. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th Century British Colonial Rosewood Display Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
19th century Goa rosewood display cabinet with sunburst design on doors. Two small drawers with three large below. Keys included.
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Anglo Indian Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 19th Century Anglo Indian teak cupboard.
In two parts with two doors above two, with the original inlaid slides in the top. Intricately inlaid with bone and ebony.
Category
1880s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Bamboo and Cane British Colonial Style Dresser or Chest
Located in Bellport, NY
A tall bamboo and cane five-drawer dresser. All drawers pull out on metal rails for easy use.
Handcrafted in Spain. Two small top drawers and three large drawers, good storage.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Cane
Red Lacquered Chest on Stand 19th Century, British India, 1860
Located in Epfach, DE
Red lacquered chest on stand 19th century, British India, 1860
Very charming 19th century chest with wonderful lacquered and gilt flower dec...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique British Colonial Teak and Rattan Hall Elbow Chair, C. 1900
Located in London, GB
Antique British Colonial Teak and Rattan Hall Elbow Chair, C. 1900
Good solid construction with historic repairs (please refer to photos).
Please message for a specific destination...
Category
Early 1900s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Teak
Zabihi Collection Room SizeAntique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
An authentic room size full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug.
Measures: 7'10'' x 11'9''.
Category
1920s Persian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
British Colonial Grass Cloth and Faux Bamboo Three-Tiered Cabinet and Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style three-tiered cabinet desk with a gallery at the top over three step down compartments covered with grass cloth and framed with faux bamboo. The upper and lower...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
19th Century Camphor Wood Campaign Travelling Trunk
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A large late 19th-century camphor wood brass-bound travelling campaign trunk with brass mounts and brass carrying handles. It features a warm, rich colour and patina, suitable for us...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Other
Large Spread Eagle Wall Plaque, Heraldic Trade Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large spread eagle wall plaque, Heraldic trade sign
This is a very large piece, it is made in polished silver metal, the plaque would have been di...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
19th Century English Open Library Caddy, Bookshelf
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century English Open Library Caddy ~ Bookshelf is a charming piece that can serve in a variety of roles throughout the home! Originally designed to b...
Category
1890s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Sycamore
British Soldier's Woolwork or Woolie, 19h Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an exceptional example of a 19th century British soldier's "Woolie" or woolwork that is signed "G.W. Whitby/India. The woolwork depicts the ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool, Glass, Wood
$2,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Group of Eight Elephant Head Wall Ornaments, Priced Per Set of Four
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage group of twelve intriguing hand decorated cast composition elephant head wall ornaments or brackets. From the Walker Theater, Indianapolis Indiana.
Priced per set of four (4).
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Composition
Colonial Rosewood Carved Hutch Linen Cabinet with Barley Twist Columns
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Uncompromisingly hand-crafted Colonial cabinet with barley twist columns and removable shelves Circa 1880-90. Constructed from solid Rosewood and sitting on bun feet framed by hand c...
Category
Late 19th Century Asian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
$6,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Lee Radziwill Inspired Block Print Down Flower Motif Pillow in Yellow, India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring a taste of the Orient to any space with one of our custom-created square Indian block print down filled pillows. Each pillow is made of soft cotton and...
Category
2010s Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Down
$280 Sale Price / item
20% Off
19th Century Wooden Ship Wheel
Located in Queens, NY
Wooden ship wheel with brass trim (19th Cent)
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Side or Office Chairs with Upholstered Seat
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pair of Mid-Century Modern solid rosewood side or office chairs with a slightly curved back for lumbar support. Slightly tapered leg. The seat can be easily removed if you wanted to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
Pair of 19th Century British Colonial Child's Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of 19th century British Colonial chairs made for children with cane seats, nicely carved arms and half-moon legs.
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cane
Antique Victorian Cast Iron Bookbinding Press Screw Nipping Press
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique Victorian Cast Iron Book Press~~c. 19th century
Beautiful decorative Victorian era green book press nipping press
13" tall x...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Occasional Table by Maitland-Smith
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage occasional table or stand crafted in faux bamboo featuring a faux tortoise finish, brass caps and two tiers of tooled leather tops. As...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique English Sheffield Silver plate & crystal Crue set Circa 1890
Located in Birmingham, AL
uality 19th Century Victorian antique silver plated cruet set. Having a silver plated stand with a shaped handle and raised on ornate fe...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$625 Sale Price / set
50% Off
American Country Style Brass and Iron Ladle
Located in Queens, NY
American Country-style (19th Century) brass ladle with wrought iron handle
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Two-Tier Cane and Scorched Bamboo Tiger Wood Side Table with Storage Top
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Antique Victorian Aesthetic movement two-tier scorched bamboo and cane tigerwood side table or occasional table with box storage on top. Bamboo occasional tables like this, are a cult favorite among those in the design circle as well as discerning collectors across the globe. Evoking a tropical or British Colonial vibe, these tables are rare to find, and always a classic timeless piece for just about any room in the home.
You'll find this classic bamboo side table while flipping through the pages of nearly every design magazine. Understated, perhaps because of it’s size, it packs a big punch. It serves as both form and function with two areas for storage. Both a hidden box, as well as a bottom open shelf.
Born in the 19th century, this piece is created out of bamboo. Other terms used to describe this type of material and finish, are scorched bamboo or tortoiseshell bamboo or tiger bamboo. This particular piece is square in form and has four legs. The top of the table is square and features a box with a liftable lid for storage. Fastened with a hinge, it is a great way to hide little things that make a space feel cluttered. (TV remotes, reading glasses, etc.) When closed, the top functions as a normal tabletop. We envision a beautiful vase sitting atop a stack of well-loved books.
Under the top of the table, sits a second open tier shelf for additional storage. Again, we think this would be a great way to showcase a stack of your favorite books or a small bowl of fresh flowers.
Both the top of the table, and the sides are covered in what is sometimes called rice matt. It's more of a woven fiber much like cane or wicker, and can often be mistaken for grasscloth.
This piece would be fabulous if used in a number of ways:
1.) Our dear friend suggested using this as her "smoking box". With the inside holding the items she wouldn't necessarily want in view, but in a convenient enough place to quickly grab things should she need/want to.
2.) Entry table: To eliminate the mess of setting keys and sunglasses on a table, we think this small table box would be a great place to set keys and sunglasses inside, and then closed, to set a purse on top of.
3.) Patio: A lovely plant stand between two patio chairs...
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Metal
$960 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Set of Nine Framed Pen and Ink Navel Sailing Ships
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Set of nine antique drawings of American and English Navel Sailing ships executed in a pen and ink technique highlighted with watercolor, matted and presented in mahogany frames behi...
Category
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paint
19th Century Jamaican Campeche / Planter Chair
Located in Charleston, SC
This elegant British Colonial 1810-1830 Campeche chair is made of solid mahogany and was known in Jamaica as a Spanish chair in the period. This West Indies Planter chair...
Category
Early 19th Century Jamaican Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
British Colonial Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th century British colonial partners desk hand crafted in well grained mahogany with a tooled leather top on a case with three drawers on either side over two pedestals ...
Category
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
English Country Style Carved Walnut Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (19th Century) carved walnut wall plaque with grape and floral design and bird.
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Ebonised Anglo-Indian Side Tables, circa 1860
Located in London, GB
India, circa 1860
A beautiful pair of turned ebonised Anglo-Indian side tables with stretched cowhide. Wonderful style and patina.
Dimensions: H 30cm x W 37cm X D 37cm.
Category
1850s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.